Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Reflects on Mistake as Team Faces Struggles

Jazz Chisholm Jr. returned to the Yankees lineup on Sunday, looking to shake off the mental lapse that marred a victory the previous day. In Saturday’s game, Chisholm misplayed a routine grounder, allowing Otto Lopez to reach base and ultimately score during a nail-biting ninth inning. Despite the blunder, the Yankees managed to secure the win, thanks in part to David Bednar’s closing efforts.

Manager Aaron Boone addressed the incident, noting that he had a brief conversation with Chisholm after the game. “He laid back on the ball,” Boone explained. “Fundamentally, he was fine with it. He’s just got to be a little more aware of the guy getting down the line. It’s a play we’ve got to make.” Chisholm, who has also been struggling offensively, redeemed himself somewhat with a two-run double in the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to Miami on Sunday.

Reflecting on his Saturday mistake, Chisholm acknowledged the nature of the game. “We all know how I play baseball,” he said. “The guy caught me with my head down and [made] a good play. I do it to other teams all the time. Someone caught me. It’s no big deal.” His offensive struggles have been evident, as he had been in a 4-for-31 slump before his key hit on Sunday.

Chisholm isn’t the only infielder facing challenges; José Caballero also made an error at shortstop and has struggled to contribute offensively. Boone commented on Caballero’s recent performance, noting, “He’s swinging through some pitches,” while expressing confidence in his defensive abilities despite the recent throwing issues.

In other news, Carlos Rodón reported some soreness after throwing a side session on Saturday. Boone characterized Rodón’s discomfort as “to be expected” during his rehabilitation process following offseason elbow surgery. Though Rodón’s comeback has faced some delays due to hamstring tightness, he is set to throw another side session early in the week.

Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Monday as he continues his recovery.

The Yankees also faced challenges with the automated ball-strike system, failing to capitalize on a pair of challenges during their ninth-inning rally. Boone emphasized the importance of maintaining aggressiveness, even if it has led to setbacks in recent games. “We’re gonna trust our knowledge of it,” he stated. “There are gonna be games you don’t have them at the end.” The Yankees recorded an impressive 30 walks in their series against the Marlins, marking the most in a three-game series in franchise history.

On a concerning note, Camilo Doval has struggled in his last two outings, retiring just three batters while allowing five hits, four earned runs, and one walk. Boone acknowledged that Doval has faced tough left-handed hitters and has not executed well, leading to opposing batters reaching base in half of their plate appearances against him. Doval is expected to serve as a setup man for Bednar, who has been overworked recently, throwing 40 and 33 pitches in his last two appearances while successfully notching saves.

“We don’t want him throwing 30-40 pitches [each outing],” Boone said of Bednar, highlighting the need for a balanced approach as the season progresses.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.